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Flesh and Blood, John Harvey
William Heinemann
Reviewed by Lisa Hoult (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

It's a claim that's all too common days – you know, the one seen on a book cover touting it as the "ultimate cliffhanger to rival all others", "one that will leave you stunned and amazed" etc, etc.

Well, this one's no exception. "A gripping and powerfully atmospheric thriller", it says under this title – but wait, in this case it's true. Oh, thank heavens – a proper thriller at last.

We start deep in the English countryside where Detective Inspector Elder has hidden himself from the world. Betrayed by his wife, and retired from the force, the only visitors he entertains are the restless souls of his nightmares. One unsolved case from his past particularly haunts him – the disappearance of 16-year-old Susan Blacklock in 1988.

Shane Donald and Alan McKeirnan were jailed just one year later for the brutal murder and rape of another young girl and, in Elder's mind, they are still the prime suspects for the Blacklock case.

When Elder learns that Donald is to be released, he is compelled to revisit the crime scene and try to bury some of his demons. But Donald disappears while on parole, and soon another girl is found dead. Though McKeirnan is still behind bars, his influence over Donald is strong and the latest murder bears the hallmarks of their previous crimes.

After receiving taunting postcards from the killer, Elder's involvement in the case becomes crucial, but in facing up to his past he must confront a present far more terrifying and personal than even the demons of his dreams.

I liked the fact that the characters aren't supermodels with perfect personalities. Pot bellies, grey hairs, acne and numerous bad habits abound, but they add a refreshing reality, making the characters believable. I even started to sympathise with the "baddies".

Sometimes, though, the reality is a bit disturbing. Graphic details of what the victims suffered is unpleasant but I found that the explicit sex scene featuring an older couple almost worse. It felt uncomfortably akin to walking in on one's parents inflagrante (not that I have first-hand experience of this!) and so wasn't a scene to dwell upon.

The suspense slowly builds to a fantastic finish and, for extra brownie points, little ol' New Zealand plays an important cameo. If you want a "real" thriller, this is one to grab.